The latest seems to be something called the cinnamon challenge, where kids dare each other to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon in less than 60 seconds without washing it down with any liquid. The result is usually lots of hilarious sputtering, choking, gasping for air, and, eventually spewing of powder, dragon like, out the mouth. Funny right?

Not really. According to a recent paper published in the journal Pediatrics, within the first six months of 2012, poison control call centers had received 200 cinnamon challenge related calls, 30 of which required medical attention.

Turns out cinnamon can be damaging to the lungs if inhaled. Asthma or respiratory conditions can be exacerbated by the inhalation of cinnamon, which is actually grated bark from a tree. If the cinnamon dust gets into the lungs it can cause an asthma attack and possibly scarring of the lungs.

The Pediatrics report, and all subsequent coverage, such as this NBC News report strongly warns parents to be warn their children against the challenge.

Dr. Stephen Pont, a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics and an Austin, Texas pediatrician, said the report is “a call to arms to parents and doctors to be aware of things like the cinnamon challenge” and to pay attention to what their kids are viewing online.

The cinnamon challenge is not new. Videos instructing people how to do the cinnamon challenge as well as showing kids trying it, are abundant on YouTube. According to this report, there are over 51,000 YouTube clips involving kids intentionally choking on cinnamon.

Duh! Was I ever that stupid? I’ll pretend I don’t remember.

When I was a teen I remember seeing kids, mostly boys, giving each other what they called rushes. They would pick each other up and squeeze their chests hard, as if trying to squeeze the life out of them, and then finally, when they couldn’t breathe, let them fall to the ground, reveling in their dizzy stupid stupor. I tried it once. I didn’t get it.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the cinnamon challenge was supposed to get you “high” in some way. Lack of oxygen can do that. When my tween hears about teenagers doing what to her, thankfully, seems like really strange things–drinking, smoking, sniffing Sharpie pens to get high– she always asks me “Why do they want to get high?”

11 Responses to Cinnamon challenge: Not only stupid, it’s dangerous

Yes I have heard of this ABC reported on this yesterday on the 6’o’clock news. I never did stupid stuff like this as a teen, but I have watched others do stupid things like this. In high school the boys would say, “if I touch a certain point on your neck it will cause you immense pain and then cause you pass out” I watched them try it on each other over and over at lunch time. Most of them screamed and made them stop. More stupid things I saw, kids smoking cat nap at parties to try and get high. Really stupid and not worth my time. I really hope my daughter is smart enough to know not to do things like this, I will do my best to guide her.

Lizsays:

April 23, 2013 at 11:27 pm

This seems a little like old news. Now they snort condoms in their noses and pull them out of their mouths. Cinnamon challenge has kind of lost it’s appeal by now.

My stomach hurts this morning from the things in this world like this. I just can’t believe it. We used to do “indian burn” where you would twist your skin in the opposite directions on your arm and it would leave a burn (don’t have any idea why it was called “indian burn”) or boys would take two fingers and lick them, then slap friends skin as hard as they could to see who could endure the pain the longest. Or knuckles, where they would punch each other’s knuckles until near bleeding to see who would cry “uncle.” I guess boys have been doing this kind of ridiculous self-harmful behavior forever, I bet.

Rachelsays:

April 24, 2013 at 8:58 am

Oh my, yeah I think I am good with one child.

I have never heard, done or thought of any of these things! People do what with condoms? Cinnamon is not just for your toasat but is now deadly? Oh and heaven forbide letting your kids use cleaning products. I am scared. /locks self in closet. >_<

No, I have not heard of the cinnamon challenge. Man, what will they think of next? Whatever happened to good old beer and pot for teenagers? I went to plenty of parties in high school where there was alcohol and pot readily at hand. I was all too stupid with the alcohol, but never anything else. I think I wised up after I turned 21 and it wasn’t so taboo anymore. I remember witnessing one friend drink Nyquil to get drunk and that just seemed REALLY stupid and gross. Ugh, I don’t even like taking that stuff when I’m sick and need it.

Allysays:

April 24, 2013 at 4:55 pm

If you think this is bad have you heard of the salt and ice challenge? I don’t understand why kids do what they do. Kids are getting terrible burns from the salt and ice challenge I really don’t see the appeal.

Carasays:

April 25, 2013 at 1:27 am

Some people are just born with too much thrill seeking genes. When they are predisposed like that and then exposed to the right stimulant and peer pressure, voila! They should find a better hobby but that’s easier said than done and a lot of self esteem.

Angelasays:

April 25, 2013 at 5:39 am

Why they want to get high? A good question! I think I would have to shake my head and say “I don’t know – maybe because they can’t think of anything better to do? Because they are silly enough to think that it is clever to do something dangerous?”…

Annasays:

April 25, 2013 at 5:31 pm

@ Angela

They arent doing it to get high. It’s because it’s something that is almost impossible to do. Cinnamon is hydrophobic so it doesn’t absorb water well, so trying to swallow an entire tablespoon of cinnamon with only saliva is pretty hard. Problem is then the body starts to choke and kids can inhale the cinnamon into their lungs. It’s a challenge to see if they CAN do it. Nothing to do with a “high” oh any sort.

Brittneysays:

April 25, 2013 at 9:53 pm

Oh yeah, I remember when the kids I went to school with were snorting crushed up smarties and pixie stix. I knew it was stupid because I knew about drugs and knew very well that all sugar would do is hurt really bad, not make you high. Although I had ample chances to try drugs and other stupid things, I never did because I was educated about them. That is how I will raise my kids. Education! So they know just what this stuff can do to you.

Angelasays:

April 27, 2013 at 9:04 am

Anna, I was answering Betsy’s question – or rather, Esther’s. I don’t think cinnamon would get anybody high directly, though oxygen deprivation is known to do strange things…

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